Rockaway Republicans BecomeYounger,MoreAmbitious

Pictured, left, are Jane Deacy, Republican District Leader for the Rockaways, new Rock Republican President Margaret Wagner; outgoing President Tom Lynch; and special guest Pamella Geller, “Atlas Shrugs.” In a stunning election last Monday night, the seven-year old Rockaway Republicans elected a young woman from Broad Channel as its next President, Margaret Wagner; and then they elected an 18-year veteran of NYC Sanitation who lives in Dayton Towers as their next Vice President, Ed Shevlin; and they elected a young Rockaway Park Doctor of Podiatry as their new Treasurer, Dr. Harold Paez.

“I am so delighted,” past president Tom Lynch says, “to hand over leadership to such young, and talented and committed Republicans. We have a long way to go and Margaret and Ed and Harold are going to get us there.” Lynch had been President for the entire sevenyear life of the Rockaway Republicans.”

Two new special posts were added to the board, and the membership elec-ted Bogda Matuszewska as the RR’s new Outreach Coordinator, and Stu Mirsky as Director for Public Relations.

Ed Deacy and Pete Stubben were elected as Sergeant at Arms and Secretary. Because of the great interest from members, Cynthia Hernandez, Tom Rayder and James Katen were elected Deputy Directors and five new non-executive board members were also added: Bob Turner, Steven Greenberg, Jack Farrell, Dr. John Meringolo and Alan Zwirn.

Jane Deacy, Republican District Leader for Rockaway and the entire 23rd Assembly District, welcomed the new board with these remarks, “You have big shoes to fill. George Greco and Tom and Beverly Baxter and Stu Mirsky had a vision seven years ago, and today a vibrant young man now represents Rockaway in City Council. It’s essential for the progress of our state and our nation that we likewise have common-sense reps in the State Legislature and in the Halls of Congress. We need you to help make that happen!”

In her first official capacity, Wagner introduced the evening’s special guest Pamela Geller, who runs the Atlas Shrugs blog. Geller was a fashion editor for The Daily News on 9/10 – she says – but on 9/11 her life changed when she asked Why? Geller opened, “you can avoid evil, but you cannot avoid the consequences of evil.” She held the overflow crowd at the Yacht Club last night on the edge of their chairs as she discussed the unreported events of fanatical Islam around America and in such places as Western Europe, Indonesia and Sudan. She reported on the mass media’s unrelenting silence and the obstacles she faces daily in her efforts to inform and educate on such things as the Cordoba Mosque, The Reliance of The Traveller, the brutal treatment of young women and the long-term goals of such groups as The Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR. Geller welcomed all to her Atlas Shrugs blog on the Internet.

Wagner closed the meeting by reporting that 50 members just signed up and she hopes to have a hundred members by years-end.